The Revival Of The Jelly Sandal

Like it or not…and controversially…jelly shoes are back!

They have made a sneaky comeback this summer as the unexpected shoe trend which nobody saw coming and whilst many fashion-hungry gals have embraced them and welcomed them back on their pedicured feet, many have shunned the prospect of this ugly 90’s resurgence bringing back memories of cutesy childhood outfits and glitter speckled jelly shoes. 

Just like Labubu’s have sparked a nostalgic joy for many, jelly shoes are one of those symbols of youth.  They represent childhood and the carefree happiness that came with those cute girly outfits.  Jelly shoes edge on that retro-futuristic charm of transparent materials and you know what they say about fashion – things always come back!

Not many may know this, but jelly sandals have in fact been around for quite a while.  They frequented many Mediterranean beaches in the 1960’s as a perennial beachside shoe.  The throwback, practical favourite has reemerged in elevated new forms that feel chicer than childhood – think comfortable glossy fisherman sandals in citrus-bright tones, and jelly ballet flats with a translucent sheen – but with that unmistakable rubbery finish.  I’m also all for practicality when it comes to footwear – with some style thrown in of course – but with jelly sandals being durable, breathable, waterproof and easy to clean – it makes them the prefect summer shoe for both beach and city.  They’re certainly having a moment right now and not just for the pool anymore.

I must admit, I am a fan and so much so that I spent quite some time this summer hunting down the perfect pair of jelly sandals that weren’t going to cost a fortune because as we all know, trends come and go and what’s ‘hot’ now won’t be ‘hot’ come the Autumnal ‘ber’ months.  I also love that they are different from your average summer sandal, they feel fresh, interesting and more fashion forward plus I loved seeing how people were styling them online.  I took inspiration from the Row, who led the way in terms of bringing the jelly sandal back with their cool gel-like caged Mara Jelly Flats.  During the brands Spring/Summer 2024 runway, the Row jelly flats were styled with billowing maxi dresses and minimalist oversized separates, taking on a whole new level of sophistication.  This is how I saw myself wearing the flats along with cool linens for the summer.  I ended up finding a complete dupe of the Row’s flats at TK Maxx in Ireland with the most comfortable cork sole and in the exact red/orange colour the brand brought out and I literally have not stopped wearing them!  Were they always this comfortable? I can’t remember much about the 90’s and I don’t remember comfort factors of any sort of footwear. 

The first thing I noticed was how malleable they are – making them a dream to put on because of how easily they bend to the foot’s natural contour.  And for those wondering if they made my feet sweat!  Absolutely not – they are completely airy thanks to the woven like design. They also feel quite moisture-wicking but also water repellent – like they are designed to dry off quickly and keep your feet as dry as possible.  I’ve worn them with everything from wide-legged linen trousers and denim city shorts to summer midi-dresses and a white cotton skirt and I’ve made sure they’ve been with me on all my Euro summer trips.

Bottom line…jelly sandals are unapologetically BACK and cool again and honestly, I’m not mad about it.